Spores explanation accepted at face value: Hishammuddin
Leong Kar YenPublished: Jan 29, 2001 11:36 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The Singaporean government's clarification that its prime minister Goh Chok Tong's comparison of Malays in Singapore and Malaysia was only made for local consumption has been accepted at "face value" by Youth and Sports Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
"I have to take it at face value as it is a position conveyed to me by a minister of the Singapore government," Hishammuddin told reporters after meeting his Singaporean counterpart, Abdullah Tarmugi in Kuala Lumpur today.
When asked if Umno Youth would accept the explanation conveyed by Abdullah, Hishammuddin said that it is up to the executive committee.
Abdullah, who was also present, added that statements made by Goh last week of Singaporean Malays faring better than Malay Malaysians was only in the context of the development status of Singapore communities.
"We prefer the long term view, we have to get along. It is not important who started what. The most important thing is that we must think long term," said Abdullah who is also Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs.
Excuse for negative comment
Hishammuddin also said while there would always be "hiccups" in the relationship between Malaysia and Singapore, he shared Abdullah's view of "thinking long term".
"We have to remind ourselves how important it is to look and relook at the relationship because whether we like it or not, in terms of geographical proximity, we are very close and as far as the historical experience of both countries are concerned, we are also very close," the Umno Youth chief added.
Goh's statement, prompted by a book by Singaporean Lily Zubaidah Rahim, now teaching in Australia, added complications to the strained bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore.
According to The Sun today, "Goh rejected the suggestions contained in the book... that Malays in Singapore were marginalised, and accused the Malaysian media of using the book as a excuse to comment negatively on the situation of Malays in Singapore."
Goh had stated that the Singaporean Malays were more academically qualified and held more managerial posts than Malay Malaysians.
This later prompted Hishammuddin's remark in the media, that Goh was "undermining intentionally or otherwise the achievements of Malays in Malaysia".
Positive forum
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the planned Feb 4 gathering by the newly-formed Malay Action Front (MAF), Hishammuddin said that it was "very good".
"It is a good thing and I think it will instill unity among the Malays.
"I look at the gathering as another way of reminding the Malays that they live in a world full of challenges not only political but also from globalisation. Malaysian "Taken in that light, it is a positive forum," he said.
According to a Bernama report yesterday, the gathering entitled "The Malays will never perish from the world" would be held at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
According to MAF pro-tem chairman Mazlan Harun, the gathering "aims to instil Malay consciousness so that it would become a platform for Malay solidarity and subsequently create national solidarity among the different races".
Mazlan, a former Umno Youth member, said that several prominent politicians such as former deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba, former home minister Ghazali Shafie and former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah are attending.
Meanwhile, in a press statement today, DAP secretary general Kerk Kim Hock registered his disagreement with the MAF gathering, adding that it would undermine Malaysia's racial unity and harmony.
"The planned 10,000 people's gathering on Feb 4 shows that there are still politicians who refuse to understand and accept the fact that Malaysia is a multiracial and multireligious country where mutual tolerance, accommodation and respect among the people should be given the top-most priority," Kerk said.
"I have to take it at face value as it is a position conveyed to me by a minister of the Singapore government," Hishammuddin told reporters after meeting his Singaporean counterpart, Abdullah Tarmugi in Kuala Lumpur today.
When asked if Umno Youth would accept the explanation conveyed by Abdullah, Hishammuddin said that it is up to the executive committee.
Abdullah, who was also present, added that statements made by Goh last week of Singaporean Malays faring better than Malay Malaysians was only in the context of the development status of Singapore communities.
"We prefer the long term view, we have to get along. It is not important who started what. The most important thing is that we must think long term," said Abdullah who is also Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs.
Excuse for negative comment
Hishammuddin also said while there would always be "hiccups" in the relationship between Malaysia and Singapore, he shared Abdullah's view of "thinking long term".
"We have to remind ourselves how important it is to look and relook at the relationship because whether we like it or not, in terms of geographical proximity, we are very close and as far as the historical experience of both countries are concerned, we are also very close," the Umno Youth chief added.
Goh's statement, prompted by a book by Singaporean Lily Zubaidah Rahim, now teaching in Australia, added complications to the strained bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore.
According to The Sun today, "Goh rejected the suggestions contained in the book... that Malays in Singapore were marginalised, and accused the Malaysian media of using the book as a excuse to comment negatively on the situation of Malays in Singapore."
Goh had stated that the Singaporean Malays were more academically qualified and held more managerial posts than Malay Malaysians.
This later prompted Hishammuddin's remark in the media, that Goh was "undermining intentionally or otherwise the achievements of Malays in Malaysia".
Positive forum
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the planned Feb 4 gathering by the newly-formed Malay Action Front (MAF), Hishammuddin said that it was "very good".
"It is a good thing and I think it will instill unity among the Malays.
"I look at the gathering as another way of reminding the Malays that they live in a world full of challenges not only political but also from globalisation. Malaysian "Taken in that light, it is a positive forum," he said.
According to a Bernama report yesterday, the gathering entitled "The Malays will never perish from the world" would be held at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
According to MAF pro-tem chairman Mazlan Harun, the gathering "aims to instil Malay consciousness so that it would become a platform for Malay solidarity and subsequently create national solidarity among the different races".
Mazlan, a former Umno Youth member, said that several prominent politicians such as former deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba, former home minister Ghazali Shafie and former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah are attending.
Meanwhile, in a press statement today, DAP secretary general Kerk Kim Hock registered his disagreement with the MAF gathering, adding that it would undermine Malaysia's racial unity and harmony.
"The planned 10,000 people's gathering on Feb 4 shows that there are still politicians who refuse to understand and accept the fact that Malaysia is a multiracial and multireligious country where mutual tolerance, accommodation and respect among the people should be given the top-most priority," Kerk said.
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